Arid Zone Research ›› 2023, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (8): 1304-1311.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2023.08.11

• Plant Ecology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Population structure and dynamic analysis of natural Juniperus rigida in a loess hilly area

SONG Jiajia1(),LI Gangtie1(),GUO Jingjie1,GU Zhonghou2,LIU Kun2,LI Zhilong3,KANG Xia4   

  1. 1. Desert Science and Engineering College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, Inner Mongolia, China
    2. Ordos Forestry and Grassland Development Center, Ordos 017000, Inner Mongolia, China
    3. Ordos Forestry and Grassland Survey and Inspection Center, Ordos 017000, Inner Mongolia, China
    4. Ejin Horo Banner Water Conservancy Technology Service Center, Ejin Horo Banner 017200, Inner Mongolia, China
  • Received:2022-12-14 Revised:2023-03-02 Online:2023-08-15 Published:2023-08-24

Abstract:

This study focused on the natural Juniperus rigida population in the loess hilly region of Inner Mongolia. The structure and dynamic changes of the population were analyzed using a static life table, survival function, dynamic quantitative analysis, and time series model. The results showed that the population mainly comprised many individual seedlings, followed by medium and less mature trees. Combined with the dynamic change index Vpi > 0, the population was a growth type. The survival curve was verified using the curve model and tended to Deevey-II, indicating that the mortality rate of each age class was stable. Considering the external interference, the dynamic index tended to 0, and the population growth is not obvious under the interference condition. In the survival function analysis, the population showed a strong survival trend in the early stage, followed by a gradual decline in the middle stage. During the 2-to-8-year period, the number of seedlings decreased while middle-aged and adult trees increased. The seedling stage is crucial to the regeneration and development of the population. Therefore, implementing scientific protection measures for seedlings to promote population regeneration is recommended. Research on the internal mechanisms of the Juniperus rigida population can enrich vegetation construction in arid areas, provide a reference for population management, and provide a theoretical basis for vegetation protection and restoration in the loess hilly area.

Key words: loess hilly region, Juniperus rigida, population structure, survival analysis, dynamic analysis